As the Republican-led Congress wrestles with the daunting challenge of developing comprehensive health care legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act, specialty organizations—including those representing urology—are working to influence the ultimate outcome.

A new look at the burnout rate among practicing urologists shows that the problem may not be as widespread as previously reported. Nevertheless, nearly 40% of urologists are burned out, a number researchers say is still much too high.

The fiscal 2017 appropriations wrap-up package approved by Congress in early May included a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health, despite a Trump administration request for a $1.2 billion reduction for the nation’s primary medical research facility. That bipartisan action, which funds the federal government through September, came in the face of President Trump’s demand to slash spending for domestic programs to pay for a huge increase in appropriations for defense.